BAGHDAD (Reuters) - It was one of Baghdad's last remaining pleasures, but even eating ice-cream is now too risky.

"I have brought my family just once this season. Each year is worse than the last," said Abdul Rasoul Majeed, a 40-year old civil servant, savoring a rare vanilla ice-cream in Al -Ballut, a usually popular parlor in central Baghdad.

Bombs and bloodshed drove Iraqis from the streets, parks and playgrounds of their capital long ago. But they kept coming out for ice-cream, at least until February, when a spasm of sectarian violence pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war.

"Before the war it was very good. We used to open the shop until three in the morning. Now, we close it at nine. Even two years ago was better, when the curfew began at 11 p.m.," said Wail Zuhair, the 25-year-old behind Ballut's counter.

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